Search Louisiana Court Records

Louisiana court records are public documents kept by parish Clerk of Court offices across all 64 parishes in the state. Each parish stores its own civil case files, criminal records, land records, and related documents at the local courthouse. You can search Louisiana court records online through statewide portals, through parish-specific systems, or in person at the clerk's office in the parish where the case was filed. This guide covers where to search, what you can find, and how access works across the state.

Louisiana Court Records and the Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in each Louisiana parish is the official keeper of all court records for that parish. This office holds civil filings, criminal case files, land records, mortgage documents, marriage licenses, and in many cases birth and death certificates. The clerk is an elected official and serves a four-year term. Most Clerk of Court offices in Louisiana fund themselves entirely through the fees they collect, not from tax dollars.

At the top of the state court system sits the Louisiana Supreme Court at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans. Chief Justice Hon. John L. Weimer leads the court. Veronica O. Koclanes serves as Clerk of Court for the Supreme Court. Below the Supreme Court are five Courts of Appeal. These courts hear appeals from the 43 judicial districts that cover all 64 parishes. The vast bulk of court records the public needs come from those district courts, and the parish clerk is the place to get them.

The Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana was set up in 1950. It has 18 members from the judiciary, the state bar, the Legislature, and other groups. Under La. R.S. 13:61 and La. R.S. 13:62, the council reports to the Legislature on judgeships and court costs. You can reach the Judicial Administrator Sandra Vujnovich at 504-310-2550 at 400 Royal Street, Suite 1190, New Orleans, LA 70130.

Online Portals for Louisiana Court Records

Louisiana has several online systems for searching court records. The three main ones are ClerkConnect, eClerks LA, and parish-specific portals. Each system covers different parishes and different record types. Some offer free index browsing, while others charge subscription or daily access fees.

ClerkConnect is a subscription portal that covers many parishes. It gives access to civil suits, criminal cases, property records, and land records. It also supports e-filing and e-recording for participating parishes. Parishes using ClerkConnect include East Baton Rouge, Caddo, Bossier, Lafayette, Lincoln, Jackson, Richland, Natchitoches, Claiborne, Allen, Iberia, and Lafourche. Daily access runs about $20. Monthly fees vary from $40 to $100 depending on the parish.

eClerks LA, run by the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA), is the statewide portal. Free index searches are available for land records, marriage licenses, and civil data across all 64 parishes. Document image access requires a paid subscription. The eClerks Alert service is free and sends a text or email when something is recorded in your name, helping with fraud monitoring. Parishes using eClerks LA include Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Concordia, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, and many others.

Jefferson Parish uses its own system called JeffNet. It has been running since 2004 and gives access to property, civil, and criminal records around the clock. A 24-hour pass costs $5.00. Document downloads are $0.75 per page. JeffNet is unique to Jefferson Parish and is not connected to ClerkConnect or eClerks LA.

Types of Court Records in Louisiana

Louisiana court records cover a wide range of case types. Civil records are the most commonly requested. These include personal injury lawsuits, contract disputes, property matters, and family law cases like custody, support, and divorce. Criminal records cover misdemeanor charges, felony cases, traffic violations, and final dispositions. Both types are generally public under La. R.S. 44:1 and La. R.S. 13:507.

Land records are a major part of what parish clerks hold. These include conveyances (deeds), mortgage filings, UCC liens, and plats. Most parishes have land record indexes going back decades. Some go back well into the 1800s. Lafayette Parish holds over 16 million records dating to 1823. Concordia Parish has records from 1840 and 1850, despite a courthouse tornado in 1843 and a flood in 1927. Calcasieu Parish records begin in 1910 after a courthouse fire wiped out older documents.

Probate and succession records are also held at the clerk's office. These cover wills, estates, and guardianships. Marriage records, birth certificates, and death certificates may also be on file at many parish clerks. The Acadia Parish Clerk has records since the parish was formed in 1887. Grant Parish records go back to 1878. The range of what each clerk holds varies, so contact the specific office to confirm what they have.

Note: Juvenile records, adoption records, certain mental health cases, and sealed or expunged records are not available to the public.

How to Search Louisiana Court Records

You can search Louisiana court records in three main ways. Online is the fastest option and works any time of day. In person at the clerk's office gives you access to the full case file. By mail works for some parishes that accept written requests.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, the custodian must give you access to any public record on request. They cannot ask why you want it. Under La. R.S. 44:32, viewing records in person is free. Copy fees apply when you need printed copies. Standard copy fees across most parishes are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more, often around $5.00 per document plus the copy fee per page. Under La. R.S. 44:33.1, each public body must post its public records custodian's name and contact info online.

Louisiana has five Courts of Appeal. The First Circuit covers Baton Rouge at 1600 North Third Boulevard, phone (225) 382-3000. The Second Circuit is in Shreveport at 430 Fannin Street, phone (318) 227-3702. The Third Circuit is in Lake Charles at 1000 Main Street, phone (337) 433-9403. The Fourth Circuit is in New Orleans at 410 Royal Street, phone (504) 412-6001. The Fifth Circuit is in Gretna at 101 Derbigny Street, phone (504) 376-1400. Records from these courts are kept at each circuit courthouse.

Most parish clerk offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Some have lunch closures or special hours for certain services. Bring a photo ID when you visit. Know the name of at least one party to the case, or the case number if you have it.

Court Rules, Forms, and Legal Resources

The Louisiana Supreme Court publishes court rules for all district and appellate courts. These rules cover how cases must be filed, how documents must be formatted, and how proceedings work. The rules are updated regularly and are available on the Supreme Court's website.

The Supreme Court also runs the Louisiana Protective Order Registry (LPOR). Under La. R.S. 46:2136.2(C), courts must use Louisiana Uniform Abuse Prevention Order (LUAPO) forms to enter protective orders into the registry. These forms are available in both English and Spanish. You can download the full set or individual forms from the LPOR forms page. You can also request them by mail or email as PDF files on a USB flash drive.

Legal aid is available in Louisiana for people who cannot afford an attorney. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services covers the New Orleans area. Acadiana Legal Service Corporation serves western Louisiana. Call 211 to find legal aid near you. The Louisiana State Bar Association runs a referral service if you need to find a private attorney.

Language Access in Louisiana Courts

Louisiana courts must provide language access to people with limited English. The Office of Language Access at the Supreme Court keeps a registry of court interpreters. There are three levels: Certified, Registered, and Uncredentialed. Certified interpreters are the highest level and are the ones courts recommend using. Languages covered include Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Lake Charles City Court provides Spanish translation at no charge at every criminal and traffic arraignment and trial. Documents there are also available in French and Vietnamese. If you need an interpreter for court, contact the clerk's office or the judge's office before your hearing date. You can email the Office of Language Access at ola@lasc.org.

Louisiana Public Records Law and Court Access

Access to court records in Louisiana is grounded in the state constitution. La. Const. art. XII, Section 3 says no person shall be denied the right to examine public documents except in cases set by law. The Louisiana Public Records Act at La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. defines what records are public and how to get them. The Supreme Court has told clerks to give people the benefit of the doubt when they ask for records.

Not all records are open. Juvenile court records are confidential. Adoption records are sealed. Some family law cases, mental health matters, and grand jury proceedings are also restricted. Sealed or expunged records require a court order to access. For expungements in Tensas Parish, for instance, the full process takes six months. Background checks for criminal history are available at most clerk offices for a fee, often around $20 per name.

Note: Online court record searches are often not considered official. Only records obtained in person from the clerk's office are official for legal purposes in most parishes.

Browse Louisiana Court Records by Parish

Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes has its own Clerk of Court who keeps all local court records. Pick a parish below to find local contact info, search portals, and detailed resources.

View All 64 Louisiana Parishes

Louisiana Court Records by City

Major Louisiana cities use parish courts and, in some cases, city courts for local matters. Pick a city to learn about court records in that area.

View Major Louisiana Cities